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Sparty Spartan · 01-03-2007, 01:03 PM

Posted on Wed, Jan. 03, 2007

Le Batard: Saban leaves as a loser, weasel

BY DAN LE BATARD
dlebatard@MiamiHerald.com

The punctuation on the Nick Saban Error is greasy and greedy. You know what he was as Dolphins coach? A failure. A loser. A gasbag. And one of the worst investments Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga has ever made. He was less of a success than Dave Wannstedt and more of a traitor than Ricky Williams. There has been very little in franchise history that came with more expectations and fewer results than this hypocrite who at the end avoided the hard questions one last time.

Talk like a warrior. Behave like a weasel.

Maybe Saban would be better off in college. Because, in the pros the last few days, he has looked like a complete and utter amateur.

He will be remembered in these parts as a quitter and a liar. He leaves the franchise in last place, with what used to be his good name somehow far lower than that. And for this he'll get a $25 million raise and more job security in Alabama. Makes you wonder what USC's Pete Carroll or Ohio State's Jim Tressel are worth, doesn't it?

Larry Coker, a decent man, gets fired for his one championship. Saban, a duplicitous one, gets the most lucrative job in college football.

Saban could have fixed his reputation today if he had that mental toughness he is always sermonizing about. We have the meandering spiel memorized by now. About ''competitive character'' and ''overcoming adversity'' and blah, blah, blah. You preach it, Nick. But you don't live it. Not when it's easier to run away and hide.

Miami, 6-10 against an easy schedule, was swept this year by younger teams in its division -- the Jets and Bills. The team isn't better than when Saban arrived, just older. What little winning Saban has done has been with players left for him by Jimmy Johnson and Dave Wannstedt. What's the best decision Saban has made in two years? Can you name one?

So it makes sense that he would lack hope. But when his players are losing, he asks them to be proud and fight and overcome, even though what they do hurts a hell of a lot more than what he does. But now, reputation in tatters, integrity stained, he runs away from this fight -- to be a dictator to kids who question less and have less power to challenge him. Of course he'd go. It's a good deal easier. And a new crowd eager for a savior can hear his hot-air speeches about being a gladiator.

Saban made Huizenga look like a public fool with all his condescending talk of integrity recently, reprimanding reporters at every turn while his agent secretly kept taking slimy calls from Alabama in the shadows. What a raging fraud Saban sounds like today, every bit as counterfeit as Miami's Super Bowl expectations.

Oh, a man, even one under contract, is allowed to change his mind and listen to other offers, especially those that double his salary. But what makes Saban's behavior so unctuous recently is that he had the audacity to question the questioners with super-sized arrogance even while lying all along to his players and his boss. Huizenga has given this man everything he has wanted -- given him more than any NFL owner anywhere has given any other coach. He deserves better than this. He deserves better than Saban leaving him to answer the hard questions today.

Makes you wonder, too: Huizenga went after Ricky Williams and his money with cutthroat zeal, and Williams is still paying him back. But Saban just broke a contract, too. There are no outs in Saban's contract to go back to the minor leagues.

Remember how mad you were when Williams retired? Well, he wasn't cheating on you. He wasn't grabbing for more money. His body hurt from a beating, and he wanted to rest. What Saban has done is a more traitorous act -- the most traitorous act in the history of the franchise. He's leaving simply because he couldn't handle a hard job on the sidelines of a game in which he asks others to be violent. He gave up, in other words. And filing it under ''family'' now as a diluter, in search of understanding, rings hollow because you can't believe anything the man says about this situation. You think he'd be leaving if he were 3-13?

Saban, infomercial sermonizer, talked a lot about loyalty and integrity and toughness.

But, in the end, these were not his guides.

They were only the kinds of things he demanded of others.

DantonIzzo · 01-03-2007, 01:05 PM

I hate Le Batard with a passion, but I couldn't agree more.

I've never been a big Saban basher, but this guy's got enough of a track record now to call him an effing snake.

bukdow · 01-03-2007, 01:07 PM

Amen. Saban is about as greasy as it gets. What a shameful, money-grubbing snake.

Servo · 01-03-2007, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparty Spartan

Posted on Wed, Jan. 03, 2007

Le Batard: Saban leaves as a loser, weasel

BY DAN LE BATARD
dlebatard@MiamiHerald.com

Takes one to know one, I guess

HUT1HUT2 · 01-03-2007, 01:13 PM

Both deserve each other.

rob · 01-03-2007, 01:13 PM

Isn't this what business schools teach us to do today???

Saban is only demanding excellence and he is winning.

Fan MSU · 01-03-2007, 01:15 PM

Did anyone that is green and white expect less of Satan?? He is all about nick and nothing else !!! Now he is back with the trailor trash crowd of bama-- and much like lsu he will fit fine for a year or two!!! I wonder if bama has a large buy out for him?? go luck crimson tide-- you will need it with the nickster !!! go green!!!

DantonIzzo · 01-03-2007, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob

Isn't this what business schools teach us to do today???

Saban is only demanding excellence and he is winning.

WBill@ · 01-03-2007, 01:16 PM

I wonder what will be on his list of "necessary facilities upgrades" for Tuscaloosa.

DantonIzzo · 01-03-2007, 01:17 PM

FTR, I'd have no problem with Saban leaving for Alabama if he hadn't been such a liar and a hypocrite publicly.

I have no respect for this guy anymore. None. And it's not just MSU bitterness talking, because I didn't instantly hate his guts when he left us like some people.

Sparty Spartan · 01-03-2007, 01:21 PM

Nick is a true businessman, 8 years for 32 million, guaranteed.

mentalstate · 01-03-2007, 01:21 PM

As someone who knows Dan personally, he is a good guy, one you'd like if you actually knew him.

As for Saban leaving for an easier job, BS, do you know what it's like to have to recruit against UAB and Alabama State?!?

Spartan85 · 01-03-2007, 01:22 PM

Now that Nick is the head coach at Alabama, where is his next gig going to be?

Winston Wolf · 01-03-2007, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan85

Now that Nick is the head coach at Alabama, where is his next gig going to be?

Penn State when JoPa retires

finbib · 01-03-2007, 01:23 PM

I did hate his guts when he left, going out the door crying "MSU will never be able to recruit like Michigan and Ohio State."

Maybe we all know that, and maybe we all know you got lowballed by McDickerson, but how much class does that show going out the door? That is your public reason for leaving? Why did we hire you again? Because you SAID YOU COULD RECRUIT WITH THEM!!!!

Good f'in riddance, snake boy.

I feel sorry for the Dolphins, because they fell victim to the same blasphemous bs he gave us. But I also have hope that they won't go into a ten year tailspin like we did.

Good luck Crimson Tide. You are going to need it.

Raleigh Wood · 01-03-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

FTR, I'd have no problem with Saban leaving for Alabama if he hadn't been such a liar and a hypocrite publicly.

I have no respect for this guy anymore. None. And it's not just MSU bitterness talking, because I didn't instantly hate his guts when he left us like some people.

Seriously, what would you expect him to say when constantly being asked uncomfortable questions?

Reporters like to ask stupid questions and then complain when they get less than truthful answers. To me, the irony really is hilarious.

Anyone who knew anything about Saban and his past had to know he would seriously consider the Alabama job regardless of what he was saying publicly.

BleedGreen4ever · 01-03-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

FTR, I'd have no problem with Saban leaving for Alabama if he hadn't been such a liar and a hypocrite publicly.

I have no respect for this guy anymore. None. And it's not just MSU bitterness talking, because I didn't instantly hate his guts when he left us like some people.

Exactly. However, if the measure of a coach is to move up the ladder to get the most money you possibly can, Saban might be the best (whore) of all time! Plus, at least one team in the country still trusts and respects his integrity (Alabama)...if he does well there all will be forgiven.

Spartan Pride · 01-03-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TK421

Penn State when JoPa retires

Honestly, I could see that.

Yakispartan · 01-03-2007, 01:32 PM

Saban has not idea what the word "loyalty" means.

DantonIzzo · 01-03-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raleigh Wood

Seriously, what would you expect him to say when constantly being asked uncomfortable questions?

Reporters like to ask stupid questions and then complain when they get less than truthful answers. To me, the irony really is hilarious.

Anyone who knew anything about Saban and his past had to know he would seriously consider the Alabama job regardless of what he was saying publicly.

He got angry, and categorically denied any interest in the Alabama job. Have you seen the iron-clad, pro-Miami/anti-Alabama statements he's made during the last week or so?

A simple 'no comment' would suffice. He didn't have to go over the top and get pissed off about something he was actually involved in behind closed doors.

Herb Greenboy · 01-03-2007, 01:35 PM

Great article. My favorite quote:
"We have the meandering spiel memorized by now. About ''competitive character'' and ''overcoming adversity'' and blah, blah, blah

It's like nothing has changed since his first year at MSU, yet he can just continue this same spiel from place to place making more and more money at each stop. I wonder where it will all end. Probably not at Bama. He is a good coach and he's smart so he probably knows there is talent to win right away to parlay into his next stop.

One Eyed Jack · 01-03-2007, 01:37 PM

This guy is right. I saw the press conference on Sunday or Monday morning and there was ole' Nick getting mad because reporters had the audacity to ask if these rumors were true or not. Right then and there, I knew he was gone. I've seen and heard his schtick of lies before. With Nick, any one who has been paying attention knows when he's about ready to jump ship.

For me, it's not that he's jumping to another job for the money that bothers me, I guess. I can understand that. My beef is that he is a bald faced liar. And when the going gets tough, Nick gets going.

Bama will probably be happy with Nick, at least until his first 8-3 season. Then Nick's eyes will start a wanderin' and he'll be on his way for another $40 million.

Nick is scum.

DantonIzzo · 01-03-2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herb Greenboy

Great article. My favorite quote:
"We have the meandering spiel memorized by now. About ''competitive character'' and ''overcoming adversity'' and blah, blah, blah

It's like nothing has changed since his first year at MSU, yet he can just continue this same spiel from place to place making more and more money at each stop. I wonder where it will all end. Probably not at Bama. He is a good coach and he's smart so he probably knows there is talent to win right away to parlay into his next stop.

Exactly.

And FTR, Saban may be a good college coach (you would have to consider his NFL tenure a failure), but his track record leaves me a little

at why he is so sought-after and demands this kind of money/attention.

I guess desperate times call for desperate measures. You're always going to find a sleeping giant eager to return to the glory days, and S(lut)aban will always be there as the ultimate ambulance chaser.

ISparticus · 01-03-2007, 01:41 PM

I've met $aban and worked with him, and I can tell you, LeBatard is 100% correct. He's a worthless individual. When he fails (invariably) at Alabama, he will never coach again.

Herb Greenboy · 01-03-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DantonIzzo

I didn't instantly hate his guts when he left us like some people.

I hated this guy since before he left. Yes, I might even to this day tolerate him as MSU football coach because he is a good one, but I just don't like the guy. I still remember seeing how miserable he looked at an MSU basketball tournament pep rally, like he was forced to be with these people he looked down upon. I never even watched any of these Miami press conferences being referenced because I just automatically tune out anything the guy says.

Yet somehow he is a great coach and a great recruiter. I just can't believe kids fall for his act but he must be good at it. I remember him ripping on Sedric Irvin for not making a committment and then Saban leaves in the middle of the season.

Yeah, Saban is beating a dead horse. But hopefully this will help put to rest any fantasy of Saban retiring as MSU football coach, I think we know where his loyalty, or lack thereof lies.